Fastest qualifier and 2-1 morning-line favorite I B A Big Girl heads the restricted Grade 1 $620,000 TQHA Sale Futurity at Retama Park Saturday night.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 22, 2025–A talented field of Texas-bred two-year-olds will line up Saturday night in the restricted Grade 1 $620,000 TQHA Sale Futurity at Retama Park.

Contested over 350 yards, the final is set as Race 10 on the Saturday, July 26, card with a scheduled post time of 10:18 p.m. (CDT). T

he race, exclusively for Texas-Bred graduates of the TQHA Yearling Sale who qualified through trials on July 12, offers a $200,000-added purse boosted by the TQHA HIEA Bonus.

Headlining the field is the fastest qualifier and morning-line favorite I B A Big Girl (2-1), a gray filly by leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel out of the Jesse James Jr mare I B Jessie Jane.

Bred by Shane and Barbee Beer, and campaigned by the same ownership, I B A Big Girl comes into the final off an authoritative trial victory in 18.004, a 90 speed index. Trained by John A. Stinebaugh and ridden by Gilberto Linares, the filly boasts two wins from four starts, including a sharp maiden victory at Sam Houston earlier in the season. She was a $6,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

Another standout is Eagle On A June Bug (4-1), who drew post #9. The Eagles Fly Higher gelding out of Sandy June Bug by Blushing Bug is trained by Victor Oviedo for owners Sergio Jimenez and Enrique Santollo.

Bred by Robert T. Moudy III and purchased for $20,000 at the TQHA Sale, he has two wins and a runner-up finish in three career outs. Eagle On A June Bug impressed in his trial heat, surging late to win by a neck in 18.024 under H.J. Hernandez.

Earlier this year, he ran second by a neck in the Grade 2 $347,000 Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs and has earned $67,916 off two wins in three starts.

Slotted in post #3 is Brother Gaga (5-1), a fast-improving gelding by This Is An Eagle out of Papa Larrys Girl by Papa Larry. Bred by Billy Dan Dodd and owned by Alfredo Cantu, the $17,000 TQHA yearling broke his maiden in his most recent start, scoring a gritty head victory in his trial in 18.068.

Trained by Jorge Luis Muniz and piloted by Alejandro Ochoa, Brother Gaga displayed determination and gameness in prevailing over fellow qualifiers Wera C and La Chuchy.

With the top ten horses from 11 trials returning to battle, and several impressive trial efforts spread throughout the field, Saturday's 350-yard sprint could offer fireworks worthy of the winner's prize valued at $275,900. Last place will take home $15,500.

Shes Ec To Tempt Headlines $50,300 TQHA Sale Juvenile

A pair of fast-rising juveniles—Shes Ec To Tempt and Gainz—headline a competitive field in the $50,300 TQHA Sale Juvenile Stakes at Retama Park on Saturday, July 26.

The 350-yard feature for 2-year-olds gives a second chance to the next 10 fastest qualifiers from the 2025 TQHA Sale Futurity Trials.

Post time for Race 8 is set for 9:24 PM (CDT).

Shes Ec To Tempt, the 5-2 morning line favorite, brings (2) 1-1-0 record into her stakes debut for breeder/owner Francisco Javier Garza. The daughter of champion Tempting Dash, out of the EC Jet One mare Kas Shes Ec, was a sharp winner in her most recent trial, overcoming a troubled break to surge clear under jockey Jose R. Herbert.

Trained by Patrick Clemons, she stopped the clock in 18.231 seconds with a 83 speed index in just her second career start. Prior to that, she missed by a head in her debut at Houston.

A homebred, Shes Ec To Tempt looks to extend her winning streak and stamp herself as a rising force in the Texas-bred ranks.

Drawn just inside her in post 9 is 7-2 second choice Gainz, who has finished worse than third only once in five career starts. The Tempting Dash gelding, a $65,000 TQHA Yearling Sale purchase by owner Triple Five, is trained by Oscar Constancio, Jr. and will be ridden by Jorge J. Garcia.

Gainz impressed earlier this summer when capturing the $78,000 Sam Houston Juvenile Stakes, outkicking Relentless Dasher, who also returns in this event. In his July 12 trial, Gainz was caught in the final stride to finish a narrow second in :18.244 seconds—just a tick off the top qualifiers.

With experienced connections and stakes-credentialed performances, Shes Ec To Tempt and Gainz highlight a strong betting race and an exciting renewal of the TQHA Sale Juvenile.

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